Redditors recently gathered on r/movies, the largest film subreddit, to discuss the complex issue of movie titles. There are exceptional films with poor titles, but their overall strength prevents them from being disastrous. However, there are also genuinely terrible movie names that are impossible to defend, ranging from clichéd to bizarre. The Reddit users mercilessly criticized these titles for being excessively verbose, inadvertently amusing, self-contradictory, or completely disconnected from the film itself.
Their choices encompass various genres, from Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever to The Last Exorcism Part II. Although not all of these movies are bad, and some may even be good, their titles are undeniably lacking. A rose, regardless of its name, may still have a delightful fragrance, but these titles could have certainly benefited from a revision.
10. 'Wrath of Man' - (2021)
Image via United Artists
Directed by Guy Ritchie, Wrath of Man is an action thriller that takes viewers on a thrilling journey with Jason Statham as the enigmatic H. As a highly skilled armored truck driver, H joins a cash-in-transit company responsible for transporting large sums of money. However, what seems like a routine job quickly escalates into a high-stakes heist, unveiling H's true motives. Despite being an average action film, it is elevated by Ritchie's unique style and Statham's consistently explosive performance. However, the title itself is unrelated to the movie's plot and gives off the impression of a biblical epic or a heavy metal album rather than an action-packed thriller. One user, maxpaynebro, expressed their distaste for the title, saying, "I cringe every time I see Guy Ritchie's Wrath of Man on Amazon. What a dumb title!"
9. 'The Last Exorcism Part II' - (2013)
The Last Exorcism Part II revolves around Nell Sweetzer, a young woman who becomes possessed by a demon. After enduring the traumatic events of the first film, Nell sets out to rebuild her life and regain her sanity in New Orleans. However, it becomes apparent that the malevolent force that haunted her before has not fully released its grip.
The film received widespread criticism, particularly for its reliance on found footage clichés. Additionally, the title itself has been regarded as somewhat comical. "I vaguely remember watching this, and I'm fairly certain I found it somewhat enjoyable," shared Redditor ApolloRocketOfLove.
8. 'The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia' - (2013)
The horror genre is filled with its fair share of delightfully terrible movies, many of which have painfully bad titles. This brings us to The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, a prime example. The film centers around the Wyrick family, who relocate to a historical rural home in Georgia and soon discover that the property is plagued by vengeful spirits. Lisa Wyrick, played by Abigail Spencer, possesses a psychic ability that allows her to communicate with the deceased. As she uncovers the secrets of the house, she must confront the malevolent spirits that reside there.
There are numerous issues with this particular film. Firstly, its title is excessively long. Moreover, it is utterly ludicrous to call it Ghosts of Connecticut when the story unfolds in Georgia. Once again, we are presented with a title that should invoke feelings of fear or, at the very least, make sense, but instead, it comes across as a joke. "That's the dumbest title I've ever seen," expressed user Beached-Peach. Redditor RickTitus explains, "They wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the first film's name, even though the story takes place in a different state."
7. 'Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever' - (2002)
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever is undeniably one of the worst action thrillers of all time. This infamous film features Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu as Ecks and Sever, two secret agents who unexpectedly become allies in a deadly game orchestrated by a powerful criminal organization. The movie currently maintains an unprecedented 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a remarkable achievement in itself.
Every aspect of this film is a complete disaster, starting with its title. It not only sounds unpleasant and chaotic but also fails to accurately represent the storyline, as Ecks and Sever end up working together. User magpieduck describes it as the worst title ever, which even affects one's speech negatively, and Redditor Dove_of_Doom agrees that the movie truly lives up to the atrociousness of its title.
6. 'Now You See Me 2' - (2016)
Image via Lionsgate
The sequel to Now You See Me, titled Now You See Me 2, follows the adventures of the Four Horsemen, a group of illusionists who have transformed into modern-day Robin Hoods. After their daring heist, they lay low but are soon forced back into the world of magic and intrigue. Pressured by blackmail, they must undertake their most difficult mission yet: stealing a powerful computer chip in Macau, capable of manipulating the global financial markets.
A number of Redditors expressed disappointment that the filmmakers didn't take the opportunity to name the film Now You Don't. Instead, they opted for the seemingly lackluster title Now You See Me 2. "They could've made a fortune if they had the guts to name it Now You Don't, but they played it safe and it just sounded silly," commented user WigginLSU. Another Redditor shared their disappointment, stating, "Even with Daniel Radcliffe and Woody Harrelson portraying two characters, this sequel is a complete disaster, barely worth watching."
5. 'Manos: The Hands of Fate' - (1966)
Image via Emerson Film Enterprises
Horror boasts a plethora of remarkable low-budget films that manage to achieve greatness with limited resources. However, Manos: The Hands of Fate does not fall into this category. This infamously terrible B-movie revolves around a family who becomes lost during their vacation and ultimately becomes targeted by a murderous cult. Due to its exaggerated acting, outdated special effects, and illogical storyline, Manos: The Hands of Fate has gained a dubious reputation.
The title itself is appropriately ridiculous, almost sounding like a fictional movie that the characters of Seinfeld would enjoy. "A title that, when translated, literally means Hands: The Hands of Fate," as shared by user AnAquaticOwl. Nonetheless, the film has managed to amass a cult following due to its inherently absurd nature, and some die-hard fans may find entertainment in this delightfully terrible disasterpiece.
4. 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' - (2020)
Image via Warner Bros.
The film Birds of Prey, starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, revolves around Harley's solo adventures after breaking up with the Joker. Though the movie received mixed reviews upon its release, its legacy is further complicated by being one of the last major films before the Covid-19 pandemic. Regardless of fans' opinions on its quality, it's widely acknowledged that the original title was problematic. The term "Birds of Prey" fails to convey anything about the plot, while the lengthy subtitle seems out of sync with Harley Quinn's character.
"It sounds like a passé hipster psychedelic album from the early 2000s that no longer holds any appeal because it has become common knowledge," expressed user Amcokdfw89. "It feels like someone referencing Wes Anderson without truly grasping the essence behind it. Additionally, it doesn't align with what I believe Harley Quinn would do," remarked Redditor sonofaresiii. Although the title was eventually revised to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, the initial impact had already taken its toll.
3. 'John Carter' - (2012)
Image via Walt Disney Pictures
In this sci-fi film, we follow the journey of John Carter, a veteran of the Civil War. Through mysterious means, he is transported to the planet Barsoom, also known as Mars. On this planet, he encounters a chaotic world filled with warring factions and advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. The movie draws inspiration from the book A Princess of Mars, part of the John Carter of Mars series. Unfortunately, the decision to change the film's title proved to be disastrous, leading to it becoming one of Disney's biggest financial failures.
"Why remove the 'of Mars' part, which would have given people a hint that this is a sci-fi movie? Unless the aim was to deceive audiences into watching it?" expressed user randomgeekwithalaptop. "John Carter is such a generic and unexciting choice," added Redditor FartingBlob. "It gives the impression of a former alcoholic sports coach trying to reclaim his life by coaching a high school team to victory," remarked user YabukiJoe96.
2. 'Halloween' - (2018)
The 2018 Halloween film serves as a direct continuation of the original 1978 version, disregarding all other follow-up films in the franchise. Jamie Lee Curtis, renowned for her role in horror movies, reprises her character Laurie Strode, who has spent countless years preparing for the inevitable comeback of the relentless killer, Michael Myers. The rather perplexing title choice of the movie is further complicated by the fact that it is not a remake of the original. Additionally, it should be noted that a Halloween movie was already released in 2007, further muddling the franchise's titles and causing confusion among viewers.
Reddit user Caveman2041 expressed, "Halloween (2018) is a sequel to Halloween (1978). It is distinct from the 2007 remake of Halloween, also titled Halloween. Do you see how I have to use years to specify which films I'm referring to?" Another Reddit user, Cillian_Brouder, chimed in agreement, "Yeah, the Halloween franchise is a mess. With thirteen films, three of them named Halloween, two named Halloween II, and a bewildering five different timelines due to the franchise's tendency to frequently reboot and remake itself."
1. 'The Catcher Was A Spy' - (2018)
The biographical drama film "The Catcher Was a Spy" follows the journey of Moe Berg (played by Paul Rudd), a Major League Baseball player who undertakes espionage work during World War II. Tasked with gathering crucial information on the Nazis' progress in developing nuclear weapons, Berg becomes an unlikely hero in this gripping story.
Although it is refreshing to see Paul Rudd in a dramatic role, his performance shines in the film. However, "The Catcher Was a Spy" falls a bit short in certain aspects. Additionally, the title itself has received criticism for being peculiar and awkward. Some commenters, like Redditor InDogWeTrust007, have likened it to a lazy and possibly unintelligent play on words reminiscent of "The Catcher in the Rye." "It's not a bad movie, but that title just throws you off. It's almost like they plugged in the movie's summary into an AI generator and ran with whatever it came up with," InDogWeTrust007 expressed.